Saudi SME Finance Boost: Lendo and Quantic will deploy up to $200m in institutional capital to expand Shariah-compliant working-capital financing for Saudi SMEs, aiming to scale the number of funded businesses. Payments for Merchants: Mastercard’s Dreamonomics research highlights how SMEs prefer stability over fast growth, avoid unnecessary risk, and want integrated digital tools—positioning payments as the “infrastructure” for safer expansion. SME-Friendly Tech in the Gulf: Finanshels launched Hala Tax, an AI-powered self-service tax advisor for UAE small businesses, pushing more routine compliance into digital channels. Local Development in Oman: Oman’s Vision 2040 approach is shifting from building infrastructure to creating governorate-level jobs and opportunities, with local content policies meant to keep benefits inside the national economy. Zanzibar Community Jobs: Sheikh Hamdan directed the launch of the second Rashid Villages initiative in Zanzibar, designed to deliver housing, education, healthcare and economic opportunities with renewable energy. Energy Pressure on SMEs: Nigeria’s CNG conversion drive is still held back by financing, limited refuelling infrastructure, safety concerns and operational bottlenecks—cost savings are often outweighed by access problems. Trade War Squeeze: A US-Canada tariff fight is hitting small cross-border sellers hardest, with some reporting cancelled orders and higher costs even when overall trade impacts look “muted.” Fuel Cost Shock in Pakistan: Pakistan’s finance minister warned strikes and road closures could cost the economy about Rs120bn a day, with small shopkeepers and small businesses taking the immediate hit.